Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-04-15
Volume XLIII.---No. A.
Andrew Jackson's Duel.


sitting over the fire, that Gen. Harding
said to ME, "The Northern papers have
frequently asserted that Andrew jack
son never expressed any regret about
the duel in which he killed Charlts
Dickinson. This is a mistake, and
you should correct it."
j took out note book and made full
memoranda of what my friend pro.
ceeded to say. Gen. Harding's account
Of the cause of the duel differed some.
what from the accepted story; but
that is not important, as he did not
pretend personally to know anything
of it's origin. The valuable portion Of
his account is that which relates to his
conversation with Gen. Jackson him
self. He said, however, that the duel
grew out of quarrel on the race track
between Jackson and Joseph Erwin,
Dickinson's fatter-in-law. Dickinson
took up the quarrel and the duel fol-
lowed The other account of the af.
fair narrates that in 1906 Jackson be.
came involved in a quarrel at the race
track with Mr.. Swami, and he found
Dickinson's name Extensively introduce
ed into the letters written by Swami.
Dickinson had previousl y made dis
paraging remarks about Mrs. Jackson,
and the General had demonstrated with
Mr.. Erwin about Dickinson's speeches,
saying that be wished DO quarrel with
the latter, who was used by Jackson's
enemies in Nashville. Swann's letters,
however, renewed the feeling between
Gen Jackson and Dickinson, and re-
sulte1 in the fatal duel.
To return to Gen. Harding's story,
which | give verbatim:
ain conversation with Gen. Jackson
one day [ said: General, is brave
man ever frightened?'
"'I don't know that | am competent
to answer that question: said he.
81 replied, The world accords ycu
as much bravery as is possessed by any
man.
".If that be so, sir, said the General,
i wocld say | have been rs badly
frightened as gentleman ought ever
to be.
81 said, Il presume that was in some
Of your Indian fights!'
"No,' said he, 1T was when | went
on the field with Dickinson. l knew
him to be cool, brave, determined
man, and the best shot ever saw, and
never expected to leave the field alive.
o my live to the fashion of the day
the full breasted coat This and the,
peculiar conformation of my much..
sunken chest were all That saved me-.
Dickinson's bullet struck what app ar
ed to be the centre Of my body under
the right arm. and the ball grazed my
breastboue. | had gone upon the field
determined not to fire at Dickinson,
but to discharge my pistol in the air,
having no grosnd ofquarrel with him,
and not wishing to hurt hair in his
head. My quarrel was with his father
n-law, Erwin; but when | felt myself
shot, under the impression that l had
received mortal wound, and smart
ing under this belief and the physical
pain, | fired the fatal shot, and no act
of my life have | ever regretted so
much.
"Under the conditions Of the meet
ing We had right to reserve the fire,
because knew that Dickinson could
shoot 50 much more quickly than |
could. 1t has been asserted in the
public prints, said Old Hickory, that
| advanced to Dickinson to delivrr
my shot and that he gave back,
both Of which statements are false, sir.
stood in my place when fired and
Dickinson remained in his, receiving
my shot like cool, brave man as he
was"
Gen. Harding said that at this same
interview, which was the last he ever
had with Gen. Jackson, the latter said
to him:
".Ths world is greatly mistaken
about my having an ungovernable
temper. never gave an exhibition of
temp without my judgment approved
it. sometimes found it necessary
even to prevent the sheddingof blood" ,"
1t was in this connection that Gen.
Harding recalled the first time be ever
saw Gen. Jack ,on. at was at the
Clover Bottom race course. a fight
had taken place, and the excitement
was general and high. Forty or fifty
men stood with pistols drawn, and
there was imminent danger to many
lives, when," said Gen. Harding, "a
tall, slender man on q big bay horse
rode quickly up, looking the devil
himself, and cried out. by the Etern-
al! command the peace 1t was
Andrew Jackson, and he was obeyed.
| was only twelve years old when this
happened, but | shall never lose the
impression the scene made upon me.
Jackson had more command over men
than any other man l ever saw, and he
frequently had to exercise it. He was
the most elegant and courtly G. ntle-
man | ever knew. He preferred to
avoid difficulty if possible and con-
slstent with his dignity, but be had Il
great contempt for the man who, be-
ing once involved in fight, would not
stand up in full view and get shot at.
| remember fight in which ne and
the Benson brothers were engaged.
One of the latter got under the stair
way to keep from getting shot, and
Gen. Jackson considered him con-
temptible maH ever terward.'-
t0uthern BiyOuac.
Far & Nye is the name of a Western
firm. 1t ought to attract wide pat
ronage.
They are now making barrels With
only one stave in them. We saw
stovepipe hat that had only one "stave
in," but it made it look like an &C.
Gordon.
Jones-"That Brown is very soci-